Verbena plant named ‘KLEVP18004’

ABSTRACT

A new Verbena plant particularly distinguished by red-purple flowers, good branching, and good tolerance to powdery mildew, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Verbena x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEVP18004’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena x hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEVP18004’. ‘KLEVP18004’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in January 2013 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia between the proprietary female Verbena variety ‘VC12.0006.17’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male Verbena variety ‘VC12.0038’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP18004’ was selected from the group of plants in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October 2013.

In October 2013, ‘KLEVP18004’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. ‘KLEVP18004’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia.

-   -   1. Red-Purple flowers;     -   2. Good branching; and     -   3. Good tolerance to powdery mildew.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a plant about five months old grown outdoors in Stuttgart, Germany in July 2017. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEVP18004’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in June 2017. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.         -   Botanical.—Verbena x hybrida.         -   Common.—Verbena.         -   Designation.—‘KLEVP18004’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘VC12.0006.17’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘VC12.0038’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Semi-upright.         -   Height (from top of soil).—31.5 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—42.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8             weeks.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.         -   Root description.—White, RHS 155B, Fine fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of branches per plant.—More than 16.         -   Length.—20.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.24 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 139D.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.         -   Texture and appearance.—Pubescent, round. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A.             Lower surface: RHS 141C.         -   Length.—2.5 cm.         -   Width.—1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery. Lower surface: Rugose.         -   Venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D.         -   Petioles.—Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 141D.             Texture: Leathery. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.         -   Length.—0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 67C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—1 week.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.         -   Length of inflorescence.—4.8 cm.         -   Diameter of inflorescence.—5.2 cm.         -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—Average of 20.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A. Length: 1.1 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. -   Florets:     -   -   Length.—2.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Form.—Single.         -   Corolla tube length.—1.6 cm.         -   Corolla tube color.—RHS 56D.         -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.5 cm. Diameter of lobe: 1.25 cm.             Lobe shape: Obtuse. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused. Margin:             Entire. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy,             satiny. Color: Immature: Upper surface: RHS 67A with eyes             RHS N999D. Lower surface: RHS 67D. Mature: Upper surface:             RHS 67B with eyes (2 mm diameter) RHS N999D. Lower surface:             RHS 67D.         -   Pedicels.—Not visible. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 141C.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Present. Quantity: 4. Appearance: Shiny. Color: RHS             139D. Filament length: 0.3 cm. Filament diameter: 0.1 cm.             Anther: Shape: Bilobed, ovate. Color: RHS 141D. Length:             0.15 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen             color: Cream RHS 150D.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: 1.2 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.             Stigma: Color: RHS 141D. Appearance: Ovate. Length: 0.1 cm.             Diameter: 0.1 cm. Style: Color: RHS 141D. Length: 0.9 cm.             Diameter: 0.1 cm. Appearance: Long. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Good tolerance to powdery mildew     (Podosphaera xanthii).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEVP18004’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Characteristic ‘KLEVP18004’ Female parent Male parent Flower color Red-Purple Dark Violet Red-Pink Size of flower eye Small Small Absent

‘KLEVP18004’ is most similar to the commercial Verbena ‘Empress Purple’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEVP18004’ ‘Empress Purple’ Flower color Red-Purple with small eye Solid purple Branching More than ‘Empress Less than Purple’ ‘KLEVP18004’ Tolerance to Good tolerance Less tolerance than powdery mildew ‘KLEVP18004’ 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated ‘KLEVP18004’ as illustrated and described herein. 